JCR

I like M3 in a lot of situations. Nice find.

I have always been intrigued by experiences of how different, but "similar" machines "see" & find targets the other won't. There has got to be more to it than just luck. That's part of why this hobby is so much fun.( a big part of why I have 9 different detectors too) I'm in the more the merrier camp.

Your mention of trash pits would have me seriously thinking of digging for some bottles. With the early history of your sites that means thick glass and crockery, which should survive unbroken better. You may very well be walking over some of the rarest & best preserved items from days long past. A good long probe probably would not work well in the oyster shells, but you could find the edges of a pit where it would be easier to get down to & into the central part. I doubt there would be much iron in an old dump. It was too valuable & easily re worked by the Blacksmith.

Please give us a run down on it's capabilities in an experienced operator's hands. (now that you are not quite a kiid anymore😉) It will be good to realize how far equipment has come from those pioneer machines. I wish I could get my D Tex BFO back to operating.

It's like that scene from "Dirty Harry"......where the perpetrator, finally cornered after the gun fight answeres, " I gots to know."

Welcome from East Texas.

Yes, exactly what Jeff said.

I bet you are going to really like it.

Is there any curvature to it?

I think this type of informed, civil, yet lively discussion is just what is needed from time to time. An important part of why this Forum is so valuable to serious detectorists.

Welcome from East Texas.

Welcome from East Texas.

That's good news on availability. I ordered mine thru Detecnicks in the UK. off their E Bay storefront. First time I have ever purchased something directly from Overseas. It is really kind of funny, if some one had told me even 5 years ago that I would own a metal detector made in Poland, or Turkey, I would not have believed them. I have a couple of Dealers that are still old fashioned small affairs that don't just drop ship product. One carries Deep Tech, the other Tarsacci. I have thought of asking them if they would consider Rutus if it gets to the point of interest in the USA that it would be viable. I purchased mine based on the reputation of Rutus machines being excellent in bad soils & heavy Iron trash. The option of having Dual(Mixed) Modes that run a Threshold based All Metal channel in multifrequency was exclusive. I am mostly a Relic hunter with a lot of bad dirt iron trash sites. I did not buy it for a Park or even general all around detector. I already have the excellent Legend. The Versa is a very good unit already, better than the Legend in bad dirt depth. I look forward to it being even better all around. There is a lot of future potential riding on what update(s) come out for it. I also hope Rutus will introduce additional coils. A large 35cm coil & a small ~12-15cm coil are needed. Also a small & mid size Concentric coil that runs SMF would be another exclusive. They already have these for the Versa's predecessor Atrex.

Mike, Welcome to the forum. You will find a lot of good discussion here by some knowledgeable and passionate Detectorists. I hope you will join in with your ideas & observations. You could add a lot of value and be a better Liaison between the serious users who post here and the Manufacturers you interact with on product feedback & development. The whole basis of me starting this particular thread is what you stated above. Rutus in particular with the Versa and users in general of other high end detector models will benefit from thoughtful discussion. Let me Thank you at this time for your Versa 3D unmasking videos. I felt sure Rutus would see them & would be responsive in a positive way(after the dust settled). This is what happened with Nokta and the Legend. You played an important part in the improvements we have seen on this unit too. I thank you now for that also. My "journey" with the Versa & Rutus as a manufacturer has been very enlightening. A little with the actual detector itself, much more with how detectors & detecting is approached in The Old World of Central Europe. Those people are serious about detecting. There is quite a bit lost in the translation of language but it has been a good education. @EL NINO77 has been particularly helpful, and others also.

Welcome from East Texas.

What is the significance of the DVD-R?

Maybe. Arbor hole sure is big for a clock.

Very nice. You two are a pair to draw from. The small Toothed disc looks to be a Spur Rowel. I need to trade 350 some East Texas mineralized, relic/coin eating red dirt for some of that nice Virginia sandy loam.

I knew a CD would respond the same as Coke but never thought to use it as a standard for Fe/non Fe. I thought it would fall as a very low conductive target but I had not considered it also has tiny magnetic particles embedded in it.

I spent a few hours going back over some of the ground where the Versa previously found some additional targets with Disc set at 0, this time in 1 Tone, Disc at -5. I found a fair number of additional non ferrous targets with these settings including a fire damaged Wheat Cent & very small pieces of a plated watch bezel. The area is a carpet of small to mid size iron at 3-7 inches depth. I was not bothered by any additional tendency to dig unknown iron with Disc at -5. In fact, I don't think I dug any iron by accident. The brass harness buckle with the very corroded iron pin still attached is a good target in my book, as is the shirt size iron backed brass button I dug. This is really no different than running the Legend in 2 tone with the first tone break at 7. It works very well. Still more to learn & find.

I spent a few hours going back over some of the ground where the Versa previously found some additional targets with Disc set at 0, this time in 1 Tone, Disc at -5. I found a fair number of additional non ferrous targets with these settings including a fire damaged Wheat Cent & very small pieces of a plated watch bezel. The area is a carpet of small to mid size iron at 3-7 inches depth. I was not bothered by any additional tendency to dig unknown iron with Disc at -5. In fact, I don't think I dug any iron by accident. The brass harness buckle with the very corroded iron pin still attached is a good target in my book, as is the shirt size iron backed brass button I dug. This is really no different than running the Legend in 2 tone with the first tone break at 7. It works very well. Still more to learn & find.

A very nice hunt. Being able to trace some background information on a find is always an interesting bonus. The life & work of Mr. Mitchell lives on. Will there be an earthly trace of us left 175+ years hence? My understanding is that .900 fine "Coin Silver" in the form of actual coins was often provided to a Silversmith by wealth patrons in order to create unique tableware & other decorative items not only because the metal was readily available in that form, but because the transformation made the precious metal Identifiable in case of theft. It probably pleased the Misses also.

Welcome from East Texas. Keep that boy excited about outdoor Dad time.

Glad you decided to join. Welcome from East Texas.

Welcome from East Texas.